Follow Barack Obama prior and during his tenure as the 44th President of the United States. Read about my personal observations along with every day facts as they happen. This blog will only submit factual information about the first black President, now in his 2nd term of office.

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Thursday, June 24, 2010

He was just pardoned from his duties from United States Central Command to accept the nomination by President Obama as the top commander in Afghanistan. He replaces General Stanley McCrystal who was relieved of his duties as Commanding General because of statements he made to a 'Rolling Stone' reporter. The interview and what was said in the interview is now viewed as a mistake by General McCrystal. So what did he say that infuriated President Obama?! To put it in a nutshell, General McCrystal and his staff mocked the Obama administration, showing no respect for the President or Vice-President. It was a total lack of responsibility by General McCrystal.President Obama took swift action by relieving him of his duties in Afghanistan, and immedately summoned General Petraeus. In all actuality, General Petraeus is kind of taking a demotion by accepting the commanding position in Afghanistan. He did not hesitate to accept President Obamas nomination, as he was already in the White House waiting to meet with the President even before the formal announcment of McCrystal's firing. In actuality, General MCCrystal stepped down after explaining in detail today as to what he actually said about the Obama administration to the reporter.
General Petraeus previously served as Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq from January 26, 2007 to September 16, 2008. His position in Iraq was to oversee the coalition forces.
Petraeus received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and graduated in the top 5% of his class. He earned an M.P.A in 1985 and a PH.D in International Relations in 1987 from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He also served as an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the United States Military Academy and also completed a fellowship at Georgetown University.
Now he will presently oversee the military efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Africa.
In his military career to date, he as recieved eleven military decorations, three U.S. unit awards, two U.S. non-military decorations, nine U.S. service medals and service and training ribbons, four foreign military decorations from Iraq, France, Czech Republic and Poland.
He received three foreign civil decorations from the countries of France, Australia, and Poland. He received three non-U.S. service medals and ribbons, two from NATO and one for a United Nations Mission in Haiti. Finally he holds various U.S. badges, patches and tabs.
So who is he? He happens to be the best person on the planet right now to take up the commanding position in Afghanistan. General Petraeus must go through a confirmation hearing, but everyone, including the Republicans are claiming that President Obama's nomination for Commanding General was the correct one. He will get confirmed very quickly, then travel to Iraq and pick up where General McCrysal left off.